Madison Mayor Criticizes Chatham Borough Community Garden Expansion Plans

Madison Mayor Mary-Anna Holden and members of the Madison Borough Council joined residents on and near Brooklake Road in criticizing a proposed expansion of Chatham Borough's community garden.

The proposal has caused a stir recently among Madison residents who want no part of the project.

According to the proposal, two­ garden areas of 30 plots each would be placed along the Chatham side of Brooklake Road. Each plot would be twice as big as the current plots on the south side of Main Street—they would each be 10 x 20 feet.

The plans also include a 45 x 120 parking lot with a 20-foot driveway sitting between the two officially proposed gardens.

Hank and Irene Knobloch, two Brooklake residents who have spoken out against the project, came before Madison's council to offer their concerns and ask for the council's support in dealing with Chatham Borough.

Irene Knobloch also presented a petition which she said contained the names of 95 people. She said the 95 came from 100 people they polled around the area, asking if they would sign the petition in opposition of the project. She said only five people said they would not sign, and that some of those who did sign it were Chatham Borough residents who live near the proposed gardens.

"I think it's pretty overwhelming," Irene Knobloch said. "People were actually telling us how glad they were for us coming around."

Holden told Irene Knobloch the borough was looking into the issue, saying she wasn't sure that legally the borough would even be able to put the driveway where it is currently proposed.

Holden said she doesn't see how PSE&G will be able to grant an easement over a Transcontinental (Transco) gas pipeline, over which borough officials want to put the driveway, and also thinks it could be a safety hazard.

"I think what they plan to to do is, frankly, rather dangerous," Holden said. "Pulling a car in, and metal on metal, one spark ..."

Holden also said she sees no reason why the borough can't put the driveway in from Bartow Lane, which is fully in Chatham Borough and has a right of way across the PSE&G property.

Chatham Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan said, however, that a driveway at the existing community garden on the south side of Main Street was already built over a Transco pipe. He doesn't see how the driveway plans could be denied.

"We always try to be good neighbors," Vaughan said.